Podium discussion on the protection of privacy in the connected car with Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, former Federal Minister of Justice, Dr. Wieland Holfelder from Google Germany and Daimler Board of Management members Dr. Christine Hohmann-Dennhardt and Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber
Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger: “Drivers must retain their informational self-determination also in the connected car. In view of complex data processing and data transmission within and out of the car, clear legislation is required to strengthen data protection and the responsibilities of the parties involved.”
Careful and secure handling of data as a key factor for the acceptance of new technologies
In her keynote speech on the eve of the Daimler Sustainability Dialogue 2014, Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, former Federal Minister of Justice, emphasized that the right to privacy and control over one’s information must also be ensured for the mobility of the future. “Drivers must retain their informational self-determination also in the connected car. In view of complex data processing and data transmission within and out of the car, clear legislation is required to strengthen data protection and the responsibilities of the parties involved”, stated Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger. Since 2014, she has been a member of the “Google Advisory Council on the right to be forgotten”, which establishes criteria for the targeted deletion of Google search results on the Internet.
She discussed the data protection limits of innovation and progress with Dr. Wieland Holfelder, Engineering Director & Site Lead at Google Germany, Dr. Christine Hohmann-Dennhardt, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Integrity and Legal Affairs, and Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, Group Research Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. The discussion focused on the requirements for legislators, society and technology, as well as on the often conflicting needs of innovation, technological process and data protection.
Wieland Holfelder, head of Google’s Development Center in Munich, talked about the prerequisites of connected mobility: “The success of safe, connected and autonomous cars will depend first and foremost on safe and privacy-friendly platforms for communication and the storage of required data.” Dr. Christine Hohmann-Dennhardt explained that at Daimler, data protection standards are taken into account also for the future: “Our customers can be sure that high priority is placed on data security and data protection in our cars. This principle applies in particular with respect to new technological developments.” For Daimler, early discussion of the subject is decisive to ensure data protection: “In the development of the intelligent connected car, we focus on the issue of data protection from the very beginning. The car of the future will become more and more a digital companion; this means it has to be safe for not only on the road and in general operation, but also with regard to data security”, explained Prof. Dr. Thomas Weber.
High standards of data protection and data security
The new services can relieve the driver, increase the level of safety and contribute to efficient mobility by optimizing the flow of traffic. In connection with the use of networked services, customers’ self-determination comes first for Daimler. Customers must be able to make a personal decision as to whether their data can be used and for what purpose. Secure and responsible handling of data is a prerequisite for the acceptance of connected and autonomous driving. That is why Daimler accompanies developments in these new fields of technology and innovation with high standards of data protection and data security. The Daimler Vehicle Backend performs an important data security function – it is a server that ensures a secure connection between the vehicle and the external world and anonymizes personal data to prevent it from being matched with individual drivers. One such application is the “Live Traffic” traffic information service, which provides reports on traffic jams in real time on the basis of so-called floating car data.
Established dialog format goes into the seventh round: The Daimler Sustainability Dialogue
Since 2008, Daimler has been inviting stakeholders to the Sustainability Dialogue events in order to discuss current sustainability issues. One focus topic in 2014 is data protection in the context of connected driving. More than 100 representatives from business, science, politics, NGOs, associations, trade unions and municipalities will convene in the Mercedes-Benz Museum on November 12 and 13. The objectives of the event are dialog and knowledge transfer, definition of fields for action, and joint discussion of current sustainability issues. In working groups, the participants will discuss focus topics from areas such as the environment, human resources, society and communication. Daimler’s company representatives will collate the input of the external participants, push forward with implementation of the agreed objectives together with stakeholders during the year, and report on the progress that has been achieved at the next event.
